How much does a dental hygienist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $47.16 an hour or $8,175 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.16
- Average (mean)
- $98,990
- Jobs
- 222,740
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,880 | $36.00 | |
| 25th | $83,570 | $40.18 | |
| Median | $98,100 | $47.16 | |
| 75th | $108,500 | $52.15 | |
| 90th | $126,100 | $60.60 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $137,200 |
| Alaska | $132,700 |
| Washington | $131,200 |
| California | $124,900 |
| Oregon | $122,100 |
| Nevada | $115,300 |
| Colorado | $109,600 |
| Maryland | $107,800 |
| New Jersey | $107,000 |
| New York | $106,100 |
| Minnesota | $104,000 |
| Virginia | $103,000 |
| New Hampshire | $101,300 |
| Arizona | $101,000 |
| Connecticut | $100,700 |
| Massachusetts | $100,600 |
| Texas | $99,240 |
| Delaware | $98,910 |
| Montana | $98,440 |
| North Carolina | $97,850 |
| Maine | $97,680 |
| Oklahoma | $97,580 |
| Hawaii | $97,570 |
| Vermont | $97,470 |
| Illinois | $96,670 |
| Wisconsin | $96,540 |
| New Mexico | $95,940 |
| Georgia | $95,490 |
| Idaho | $94,650 |
| Missouri | $92,750 |
| Nebraska | $92,580 |
| Indiana | $92,330 |
| South Dakota | $92,210 |
| Florida | $91,980 |
| Utah | $91,120 |
| North Dakota | $90,530 |
| Ohio | $88,990 |
| Rhode Island | $86,910 |
| Arkansas | $86,760 |
| Louisiana | $85,240 |
| Wyoming | $85,130 |
| Tennessee | $84,640 |
| South Carolina | $84,340 |
| Iowa | $84,010 |
| Michigan | $83,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,610 |
| Kentucky | $78,830 |
| West Virginia | $73,840 |
| Mississippi | $67,280 |
| Alabama | $61,160 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $146,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $140,000 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $136,200 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $136,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $133,700 |
| Anchorage, AK | $132,700 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $131,900 |
| Napa, CA | $131,400 |
| Bremerton, WA | $131,000 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $130,600 |
| Boulder, CO | $130,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $128,600 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $127,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $126,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $125,700 |
In other countries
Dental Hygienist belongs to the international group "Dental assistants and therapists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Anesthesiologist$391,500
- Cardiologist$496,000
- Dermatologist$328,700
- Emergency Medicine Physician$335,600
- Family Medicine Physician$244,200
- General Internal Medicine Physician$256,600
- Neurologist$248,600
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist$292,900
- Pediatrician$210,000
- Physician$312,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $47.16 ($98,100 a year).
How much does a dental hygienist make a month?
About $8,175 a month before tax, based on a median of $98,100 a year.
How much does a dental hygienist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $74,880 or less a year ($36.00 an hour); the top 10% make $126,100 or more.
Which state pays dental hygienists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $137,200 a year, followed by Alaska ($132,700) and Washington ($131,200).
Which city pays dental hygienists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $146,800 a year.
How many dental hygienists are there in the United States?
About 222,740 people work as dental hygienists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.